The federal food assistance program SNAP pays $1.7 billion to $2.1 billion for purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages every year, a new study has found. Meanwhile, the government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that we cut back on consumption of sugary drinks. A disconnect? The authors seem to think so. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are important, they stress, but "allowing annual use of multibillions of SNAP benefits to purchase products that are at the core of public health concerns about obesity and chronic illnesses appears misaligned with the goals of helping low-income families live active, healthy lives.” They suggest that reauthorization of the SNAP program, set for later this year, "could be a good time to reconsider the program priorities to align use of public funds with fostering public health.

September 5, 2012 | By Hailey Branson-Potts and Kate Mather, Los Angeles Times

Selvin Chajon Rodriguez asked the mother of his young children to marry him. But if she said no, the couple and their son and daughter would "all be laid to rest. " The alleged threats, detailed in court papers filed last week in Riverside County Superior Court, were enough for Laura Reveriano to request a restraining against her ex-boyfriend. "Selvin called and told me he would follow me to the end of the earth and he would kill the kids if they are not with him and there would be nowhere I could hide," Reveriano wrote in the request for a domestic violence restraining order filed Aug. 27. But the temporary restraining order she was granted the next day did little good.

I've always been intrigued by the energy-drink market -- and people's willingness to pay a premium for what's basically sweetened coffee. New York's attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, apparently has the same misgivings. He's investigating whether the $9-billion energy-drink industry is duping consumers with misstatements about the ingredients and health value of its products. Makers of the drinks, including PepsiCo and Monster Beverage Corp., say the pep potions boost energy with a mix of additives like B vitamins, taurine and ginseng.

LONDON -- Jessica Hardy emerged from the Olympic pool on Friday, clutching the drink that would aid her in recovering from her performance. Not water. Not Gatorade. Not some special sports drink. Hardy was chugging chocolate milk. "I won't do energy drinks, with my supplement history," Hardy said. "Chocolate milk is as good as it gets. " Hardy qualified for the Olympics four years ago, then withdrew after testing positive for a banned substance. Hardy satisfied arbitrators that a contaminated supplement was to blame, and the International Olympic Committee reinstated her last year.

You'd think that Starbucks, Dippin' Dots and 7-Eleven would approach a heat wave with dollar signs in mind. Instead, all three chains are offering cool freebies this week, starting with Free Slurpee Day Wednesday. To celebrate its 85th birthday, 7-Eleven is giving away Slurpees from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The chain in May began making the slushy bearers of brain freeze more diet-friendly by slicing out the sugar and halving the calorie count. PHOTOS: Fast food gets outrageous In Inglewood, Randy's Donuts is gifting customers with free doughnuts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Coca-Cola Co. said it is not in talks to acquire Corona-based energy drinks maker Monster Beverage Corp., despite rumors to the contrary that caused Monster's stock to spike on Monday. A Wall Street Journal story that said Coca-Cola had its eye on buying Monster caused shares of the smaller company, which have nearly doubled in the last 52 weeks, to spike more than 27% from Friday's $65.53 close to $83.31 around noon in New York. But Monday afternoon, Coca-Cola issued a statement denying the report.

ATLANTA — Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro wasn't happy with his team, going off on players after a lackluster effort against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. "They outworked us. They outrebounded us," Del Negro said. "They got loose balls. We didn't really give ourselves a chance.… I didn't think our starters were very good. I didn't think our bench was very good and that's what you get. " Blake Griffin (36 points) and Chris Paul (34 points) were the only starters to score in double figures.

What is Starbucks Corp. anyway? A chain of cafes or maybe a juicery, a coffee-machine maker or an alcohol-serving bar? Adding to the identity crisis, the Seatte giant told shareholders Wednesday it would add energy-drink producer to that list. At its annual shareholders meeting, Starbucks said it will expand into the rapidly expanding energy drink industry with a line of so-called “Refreshers” beverages in flavors such as raspberry pomegranate and orange melon. Made with fruit juice infused with the extract of green, unroasted coffee, the 12-fluid-ounce, 60-calorie drinks are already being sold at some grocery locations.

Chaleo Yoovidhya Billionaire developed Red Bull energy drinks Chaleo Yoovidhya, the self-made Thai billionaire who introduced the world to "energy drinks" and co-founded the globally popular Red Bull brand, died Saturday of natural causes in Bangkok, according to local media reports and state television broadcaster MCOT, which cited the Thai Beverage Industry Assn. Forbes magazine, which ranked him the 205th-richest man in the world this year with a net worth of $5 billion, said he was 80. Several Thai media outlets cited his birth date as Aug. 17, 1923, however, indicating he was 88. It was not immediately possible to explain the discrepancy.

Apparently "Hansen Natural" didn't have enough bite — the Corona beverage maker is changing its name to the more aggressive Monster Beverage Corp. Hansen makes a line of namesake juices as well as Admiral Iced Tea, Blue Sky energy drinks and Junior Juice. Its website features pastoral images of rolling hills and butterflies. The company that has cultivated a wholesome, feel-good image also owns the gritty Monster Energy drinks. The brand, which sponsors extreme sports events, features a neon-green triple-slash logo on beverage offerings such as Monster Rehab.